Planograpm



w. P. soswomu. APPARATUS FOR uummio HEEL LOGS. APPLICATION FILED FEh. 10! I915.

Patented Sept. 9,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

n n: IMPII ca WASHINGTON, IL c.

W. P; BOSWORTH. APPARATUS FOR B'UJL Dl'NG HEEL LOGS. APPLICATION FILED FEB} 10. 1915.

1,315,461, 9 v PatntedSept. 9, 1919. v

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Emumnmmm WWII/III NITED sTATE-s PATNT FFICE.

wnnDELL P. BOSWORTI-I, or BiaooKTon, MASSACHUSETTS, assienon, BY ivnisnn ASSIGNMENTS, To BROCKTON HEEL GOMPANY, me, or BaocKTon, massacno- SETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS a 1 APPARATUS non BUILDI HEEL-LOGS.

Patented sent 9, 191 9;

Application filed February 10, 1915 Serial No. 7,379.

To all whom it may concern: a I

Be it known-that I,l/VENDE L P. Boswon'rI-r, a citizen of the'Unit/ed States, and resident of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Building Heel-Logs, of which the following is a Specification.

The present invention relates to an apparatus adapted to produce so-called heel log sections of definite and predetermined length which are adapted "to be divided in an automatic cutting machine, as wellas by handor otherwise into sectionssuitable to form a heel for aboot or shoe. Aheel log is a block having the outline in cross section substantially corresponding to that of shoe heel of standard or any other de sired form, and having a length much greater than the height of an ordinary heel, which is composed of pieces of the materials suitable for heel manufacture, either the form of whole lifts or pieced lifts, which are piled upon one another; and aheel log Section is a portion of such a log having the same form, but of relatively shorter length which, however, is at least as great as the height of a single heel blank, and the lifts of which are firmly united to one another by cement, paste, or other adhesive, in a sufficiently dry or hard conditiontoma ntain the cohesiveness of the log section. a

The present application is a continuation of the application for United States Letters Patent filed by me April 20, 1914:, Serial No. 833,07 5, for method of producing heell logs, as to the subject matter common to this and the above-named application, and is @in'.

tended to set forth and claim the apparatus and mechanical features of the invention originally shown and described in said parent application,.together with a specific improvement in one of the elements of such apparatus.

The particular object of the invention described and claimed in this application is to provide an improved apparatus of the general type disclosed in my prior Patents No. 936,858, granted October 12, 1909, and No. 1,076,742 granted October 28, 1913, which can be employed iitplaces where the prior apparatus can not be installed, and

which contains improvements adapting it to be used as indicated, and also adapting it for use to produce heel log sections substantially uniform in length and of which the length is short enough to permit of their being conveniently operated upon in a cross cutting machine in which the log sections may be subdivided into pieces of proper length to serve as heels for boots and shoes.

In the practice of building heel logs with the use of the apparatus shown in my prior patents: aforesaid,the lifts of whichthe log is built up are assembled in one endof a long guide and gradually pushed through the guide until the log emerges at the opposite G11Cl,ySllGl1 guide being sufficiently long to enable the paste or other adhesive With which the lifts are coated to dry or set beforeemerging from the delivery end, the length of such guides being from thirty to sixty feet." The presentinvention provides an apparatus in which essentially the same results may be Secured but without requiringa guide of such great length. To that end the apparatus consists of the combination with a guide through which the assemblage of lifts forming the heel is forced, of a plurality of detachable receptacles adapted to be connected with and to form a part of the guide which receivesthe advancing end of the assemblageoflifts, but to be detached when filled, together with means forholding thepile of lifts in the re ceptacles under compression until the adhesive has had time to dry or become set. Theinvention further includcsa means for enabling the assemblage oflifts to be di vided at 'predetermined: intervals into heel logs of convenient length to fill such receptacles and to be conveniently operated on in a machine adapted to cut heels from the log. The invention further includes an improved form of construction for the guide and for that portion thereof which forms the detachable receptacle: 1 i

In the accompanying drawings, gFigure l is a side elevation of a com bined heel logguide and receptacle, with the accessories thereof, in which my present invention is embodied 1 i Fig. 251s an elevation on a larger scale of the receptacle and of the adjacent end of the fixed guidc, showing the joint between, the two. a

Fig. 3 is anelevation from the rightbf Fig. 2 of that portion of the fixed guide and of the receptacle which provides the disconnectible joint between the two.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on a larger scale of the detachable receptacle end of the guide, being taken on line 4. l of Fig. 2.

- Fig. 5 is an elevation of means for retaming the logs in the detachable receptacle under pressure.

Fig. 6 is a detail shown in cross section of thepressure-applying means, taken on line 66 of Fig. 5 and represented on a greatly enlarged scale.

Fig. 7 is an under plan view of the pres sure-applying means.

Fig. 8 is an under plan view of a wrench used in connection with the pressure-applying means.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Referring first to Fig. 1, 10 represents the guide through which an assemblage of superposed heel lifts is propelled and 11 repparts 10 and 11 form one continuous guide of which the part 10, may be considered as a fixed portion, and the part 11 or receptacle a removable or disconnectible portion.

A coupling or. union is provided between these two portions and is constructed to provide a continuous passageway from one to the other when the two portions are connected together. Details of the joint are shown in Figs. 2 and 8. On the receptacle member 11 are attached angle pieces 12 which embrace the corners of the receptacle and extend beyond the end thereof. They are adapted to slip telescopically upon the adjacent end of the guide section 10. On the latter section are springs 13, 13 and 14c, 14 arranged in pairs 011 opposite sides of the guide and being formed out of fiat strips which are secured at one end to the guide and project from their points of support toward the receptacle. 'The springs 13 are offset at 15 to form latch elements which are adapted to engage with tongues or lips 16 which are bent out from the upper ends of the slip oint coupling members 12. The springs 14 are also offset and adapted to engage lips 17 formed on the coupling members. These springs and the cooperating lips form complemental latch and abutment members which retain the receptacle member on the fixed guide strongly enough to prevent accidental, disconnection. Such latch elements are, however, adapted to yield when sufficient force is applied to the receptacle tending to move it away from the guide. The latch springs 13 may also be released by cams 18 which lie between the springs and the adjacent sides of the guide and are formed with a greater width in one direction than in another direction. They are adapted to be rotated and are provided with handles 19 by which to rotate them. They may be turned from the position shown in Fig. 2, where they allow the latch springs to engage the abutments 16, to a position in which they project to a greater extent from the guide, when they disengage the latch springs from the abutments 16.

Preferably the guide and receptacle are constructed so as to be capable of contraction and expansion to accommodate heel logs of different transverse dimensions. To that end both the guide and the receptacle are composed of corner pieces 20, 21, 22, and 23 disposed so as to form the angles of a regular prism, or approximately so disposed, and of which two of the members, as 22 and 23, for instance, are provided with cheek pieces 24 and 25 to engage the curved sides of the log which correspond to the rear part of a heel. The corner pieces are retained at proper relation to one another by tongues 26 and straps or sockets 27, each of the corner pieces being equipped with a tongue which extends perpendicularly or nearly so across to the adjacent corner piece, and each of such pieces also having a socket adapted to receive the tongue of the adjacent piece.

These tongues and sockets are rigidly connected to the corner pieces and cooperate in holding the corner pieces side by side against longitudinal displacement while permitting them to move toward and away from each other. They are drawn together and caused to press against the corners and sides of the heel log, but in a yielding manner by means of binders 28, here shown as helical springs, which are wrapped around the corner pieces and the ends of which are connected to pins 29 projecting from one of the corner pieces. These springs are stretched in being thus passed around the guide and connected thereto so that they exert force tending to move the corner pieces toward a central point, and thereby causing them to exert frictional pressure against the sides of the heel log, the manner in which they act on the log being shown in Fig. 4-, where 30 represents the log.

I have found that one of these sprin s is suflicient for the container portion of the guide, while a number of springs should be applied to the fixed portion 10 of the guide, depending on the length. of the guide and the pressure which it is desired to have the members of the guide exert on the log therein.

In use the guide 10 is employed to receive an accumulation. of heel lifts piled on top of one another either singly or in groups. The lifts before being placed in the guide are first coated with any suitable adhesive and after being so placed are pressrd upon manner by suitable means with sufficient force to move the accun'iulation endwise through the guide and to overcome the friction applied by the corner pieces of the guide. For applying such pressure I may employ a plunger arranged and operated as shown in Patent No. 936,295, or any other sort of means capable of accomplishing the desired effect. As lifts are successively placed on the accumulation in the guide and successi'vely pushed through the latter,they gradually travel the lengthof, the fixed guide 10 and pass into the receptacle ll. WVhen the end of the pile of lifts has reached the bottom or farther end of the receptacle, or when enough lifts have. passed into thelatter, to substantially fill the same, the receptacle is removed from thefiXed guide and taken to a press where the pile of lifts, or log, in the receptacle is subjected to endwise pressure for a time long enough toenable the adhesive with which the lifts are coated to become dry andfirm. Preferably the receptacles are provided with lips or other abutments at their bottoms, asindicated at 301, to be pressedupon by the end of the advancing heel log section,sothat continuing advance of the log may automatically disconnect the receptacle fromthe guide. When so disconnected, the receptacle drops far enough to disconnect its coupling from the guide, whereuponthe detached receptacle may be removed and an empty one substituted. The automatic separation of the filled receptacle is of advantage, in that it avoids the necessity of constant attention to insure removal of the receptacle at the proper time.

Without intending to limit the press element of my apparatus to any specific con struction, I have shown andwill now dcscribe a form of press which I have .used and found satisfactory, reference being made to Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8. In thisform of press there are a plurality ofpress elements, all just alike and'having the same functions. Each element comprises a screw plunger 31 which passes through and is en gaged with internal threads=32i1r a bar33, and has a head 34 swiveled upon its end by means of a pivot screw 35. The bar or beam 33 is mounted by brackets 37 at a distance sufficient above a floor or other support to admit the pile of lifts in the receptaclebetween such flooror support andthe plunger head. The latter is pressed against the pile of lifts in a receptacle so placed by rotation of the screw plunger. It is evident that by providing a beam of proper length any desired number of press plungers may be provided adapted to act upon the contents of as many receptacles as may be required for carrying out the purpose of the apparatus.

1 have provided a socket wrench 38 adapted to be used for rotating the press plungers to apply and relieve the pressure thereof.

Such wrench has a socket or sleeve portion which fits the end 39 of the screw plungers, such end being shaped like a nut or the head of abolt, and thewrench i-s provided with a rim 4:0 to be grasped by the hand of the operator. Apin ll crossing the socket of the wrench forms a stop to limit the amount by which the end of the screw plunger may enter the wrench socket when the wrench is placed uponthe plunger.

An important feature of the invention consists in a means for'enabling parting layers to be inserted between successive lifts of the pile to divide the pile into distinct log sections of limitedlength. The parting layers referred to are non-adhesive pieces,

conveniently paraflin paper, although they may be of any other material which, by reason either of its character or treatment, will not adhere firmly to the piece next to which it is placed. When such layers are inserted as indicated, they enable the sections of the pile of lifts between. whichthey are placed to separate readily from one another into independent heel log sections. layers may be placed from time totime on top of the accumulating pile. The means which I have provided and here illustrated for en a'bling such layers to be placed at proper intervals of time to divide the accumulation of lifts into log sections of approximately uniform length consists of a signal. 42 here shown as an electric light, placed where it is visible to the operator and which is caused to flash from time to time, the intervals being governed by the distance and rate of travel of the lifts through the guide. I have indicated at 43 a controlling device for the signal, which includes comple'mental contacts at the terminals of a break in the circui-t 4:4.- of the light, one of said contacts being stationary and the other being movable and operated by a wheel f5 which bears on the heel log in the guiaeand is rotated by contact with the same. Thus whenever the pile of lifts has traveled a certain distance, determined by the proportions of thew'heel and other parts of the controlling device, the

signal is caused to inform the operator that 1 'apartinc; layer should be inserted. Consequently signal 42 and controller 43may be considered as embodying generally a means for desigating the location or time of placement of parting layers.

By virtue of the parting layers the pile of lifts separates by itself into distinct log sections when the receptacle 11 containing the advancing end of the pile of lifts is removed from the fixed guide. The intervals at which the lifts are placed are made such that these log sections will be of convenient length for subsequent operations, and the length of the receptacles and the distance of the press plungers from the floor or support by which the Such parting and the asse1nblagereceiving section need be only long enough to enable the lifts to be pressed firmly together during their onward progress and before being removed as a log section with the detachable receptacle. In practice it is sullicient and satisfactory if the guide and receptacle are together no longer than the distance between two floors of a building; a length which is very convenient as it enables an operator on one floor to assemble the lifts, and an assistant on the floor below to remove the filled receptacles from time to time, place them in the press, and

substitute empty receptacles. By the provision. of detachable end portlons or receptacles on the guide and press means for holding the contents of such receptacle under pressure for any desired length of time, it is possible to secure the desired result of furnishing heel log sections of which the lifts are imited by firmly set adhesive, without requiring the guide to be long enough for the adhesive to set during the progress of the lifts through the guide.

While the means for indicating the loca tion of parting layers is of particular use in connection with the apparatus in which a portion of the guide is removable and is adapted to be set aside with its contents under pressure, and is claimed as a part of the combination with such apparatus, yet it is also of use in an apparatus of the sort shown in my prior patents, and I therefore do not limit the claim to this feature of the invention to the combination with the particular apparatus herein described.

While the apparatus is here shown, and is preferably used, as a vertical apparatus in which the lifts are pressed vertically downward through an upright guide, it is not limited to such an arrangement but may be arranged horizontally or at an inclination if desired. Hence the words in the foregoing description which indicate direction are to be considered as simply descriptive terms and not as having any limiting significance.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A heel log building machine eomprising a guide in which heel lifts coated with an adhesive are superposed, one upon another, and through which the accumulation of lifts, or log, soprovided is progressively fed, a means for indicating the placement of non-adhesive parting layers at intervals in such accumulation, and means operated by the travel of said accumulation of lifts through the guide for actuating the said indicating means.

2. A heel log building machine comprising a guide in which heel lifts coated with an adhesive are superposed, one upon another, and through which the accumulation of lifts, or log, so provided is progressively fed, a movable timing device in constant driven engagement with the traveling log, and a device operated from time to time by said timing device for indicating the location of parting layers to be placed at given intervals in the log.

3. In a heel log building machine the combination of a guide in which lifts coated with adhesive are placed to form a built up heel log, a detachable receptacle forming a continuation of said guide at one end thereof, and means operated by the log in its travel through the guide for indicating the location of parting layers between sections of the log corresponding in length to the receptacle.

4. In a heel log building apparatus, the combination of the following cotiperating instrumentalities, viz:a guide for receiving the lifts of which the heel log is composed, means operated periodically by the log passing through the guide for indicat ing the position of parting layers between two adjacent lifts to divide the log into sections, and a receptacle mounted on the end of the guide adapted to receive the foremost log section and being of a length slightly greater than such section, said receptacle being detachable.

5. In an apparatus for building heel logs, a guide consisting of laterally separated parallel members arranged to engage the periphery of a heel log and so disposed as to embrace the log, means engaged with said members arranged to draw them together into frictional contact with the lateral sur- {faces of the log, a receptacle comprising longitudinal members similar to those of the guide, adjustable connecting means between the members of said receptacle, whereby the latter may be adjusted to fit heel logs of various sizes, and resilient yieldable coupling means detachably connecting said receptacle with the end of said guide and in alinement therewith.

6. In a heel log building apparatus, a guide formed to receive and embrace a heel log, a receptacle also formed to receive and embrace a heel log and adapted to be placed in alinement with said guide to receive the end portion of a log passing from the guide, said receptacle having extensions arranged to embrace the guide and to form a detachable coupling with the guide, and spring latches mounted on said guide bearing yieldingly on said extensions, to retain the receptacle 7. In a heel log building apparatus, a

guide adapted to receive a heel log and constructed to embrace and bear with resilient pressure against the surfaces of the same, a receptacle detachably connected with the end as an extension of said guide, a slip cou-a pling between said guide and receptacle, and a yieldingly retaining receptacle in line with the guide and adapted to permit disconnection by endwise movement of the receptacle, and said receptacle having an abutment or wall at its outer end, whereby pressure of" an advancing heel log against said abutment or wall is operable to automatically disconnect said receptacle from the guide.

9. In a heel log building apparatus, the combination with a heel log receiving guide, a detachable receptacle forming the end portion of such guide, an actuating device engageable and operable by a heel logpassing through said guide, and means operated by said actuating device for designating the location of partinglayers in the lo 10. In a heel log building apparatus, the combination with a heel log receiving guide, a detachable receptacle forming the end por tion of such guide, an actuating device engageable and operable by a heel log passing through said guide, and a signal operated periodically by said actuating device for indicating the location of parting layers in the log.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a means for indicating the location of parting strips in a heel log, in combination with a guide through which the log is propelled, a wheel rotatably mounted beside said guide and peripherally engaging the log, an electric switch arranged to be operated by said wheel, and a signal in circuit with said switch.

12. In a heel log building machine, a guide adapted to receive an accumulation of lifts and consisting of laterally separated substantially parallel members embracing such accumulation, transverse slip joint c0upling members for holding said members against longitudinal displacement, and a spring binder passed about all of said members under tension, its ends being attached to one of said members, and being thereby operative to force said members inwardly toward a central line.

13. In a heel log building apparatus, a guide through which a collection of superposed lii'ts is propelled, said guide including a detachable end portion or receptacle, said end portion consisting of longitudinal members having the relative ar *angement of the angles of a prism and embracing the lifts, means for preventing relative longitudinal movement between said members while permitting lateral movement, and a resilient binder under tension surrounding said members, one of said members having lugs adjacent to one another to which the opposite ends of said binder are connected.

14. A heel log building apparatus comprising a guide in which heel lifts are stacked and through which the same are propelled, a detachable receptacle constituting in eii'ect a continuation of said guide at one end, means on said receptacle whereby the pressure 011 the advancing log displaces the latter from the guide, an indicator and means operated by the log in its travel. for causingsaid indicatorto indicate the time of placement of parting layers between successive lifts of the log, such layers permitting separation between the section of log in the receptacle and the log in the guide when the receptacle is displaced from the guide.

15. A heel log building apparatus comprising a guide in which lifts are piled to form a log and through which the. accumulation of lifts constituting such log is advanced, a detachable receptacle arranged at the end of said guide and means operated in sequence with the travel of said log for indicating the time for placement of parting layers between adjacent lifts at locations a distance from one another approximately equal to the length of said receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WENDELL P. BOSWORTH. Witnesses:

FRANK W. CRANE, SYLVIA J. DAVIS.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

